UnitedHealthcare employer health plans in Colorado
Who UnitedHealthcare insures among Colorado employers and what those plans pay in premium and broker compensation, and what the UnitedHealthcare network pays physicians and hospitals.
UnitedHealthcare employer health plans in Colorado at a glance
What the data shows
UnitedHealthcare insures 114 employer health plans in Colorado (20% of 576 insured large plans), 3rd of 8 carrier groups; Cigna (276), Kaiser Permanente (146) hold more.
UnitedHealthcare has shrunk 17% in Colorado since 2020, from 137 plans, as insured plans moved carrier or to self-funding.
Most of these plans cover 100–499 people (69 plans); 10 cover 1,000 or more.
Median premium per person covered was $5,773, 5% above the Colorado all-carrier median of $5,516. Benefit design and group mix differ, so this is not a price comparison.
90% of these plans reported broker or agent pay on their UnitedHealthcare contracts; where paid, the median was 4.1% of premium (middle half 3.1%–5.3%).
In UnitedHealthcare Choice, 34 of the 50 Employer 50 services have a Colorado benchmark, at a median of 180% of Medicare across those services.
At Colorado hospitals, UnitedHealthcare's commercial rates run higher than other carriers' at the same hospital for 14 of 17 services; a hip or knee replacement stay has a median rate of $37,479 across 17 hospitals.
UnitedHealthcare plans in Colorado, 2020–2024
| Form year | Plans | Persons covered | Share of state | Median premium / person |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 137 | 42,343 | 21% | $5,591 |
| 2021 | 139 | 51,258 | 22% | $5,281 |
| 2022 | 155 | 56,020 | 24% | $5,577 |
| 2023 | 144 | 62,109 | 22% | $5,795 |
| 2024 | 114 | 58,481 | 20% | $5,773 |
| 2025 (partial) | 80 | 35,219 | 17% | $6,559 |
Plan size
| Persons covered | Plans | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Under 100 | 15 | 13% |
| 100–499 | 69 | 61% |
| 500–999 | 19 | 17% |
| 1,000–4,999 | 8 | 7% |
| 5,000 or more | 2 | 2% |
Premiums and broker pay
| Measure | UnitedHealthcare | All carriers, Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Median premium per person covered | $5,773 | $5,516 |
| Premium per person, middle half | $3,546–$7,997 | $2,365–$7,997 |
| Plans reporting broker or agent pay | 90% | 80% |
| Median broker pay, % of premium | 4.1% | 4.7% |
| Broker pay, middle half | 3.1%–5.3% | 3.0%–7.4% |
| Median broker pay per person covered | $225 | $206 |
Industries
UnitedHealthcare's Colorado employer clients are concentrated in professional and technical services (19 plans) and health care and social assistance (14), followed by retail trade (13).
| Industry | Plans | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Professional and technical services | 19 | 17% |
| Health care and social assistance | 14 | 12% |
| Retail trade | 13 | 11% |
| Manufacturing | 10 | 9% |
| Finance and insurance | 8 | 7% |
| Real estate | 8 | 7% |
UnitedHealthcare employer clients in Colorado
113 employers in Colorado have a UnitedHealthcare major-medical contract, 10 of them covering 1,000 or more people. For each one Medlyze has the plan year, the broker on each contract and what that broker was paid, and compiles the list for a state, an industry or a single employer on request.
| Employer | Persons covered | Plan year ends | Broker | Broker pay, % of premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employer name | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Employer name | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Employer name | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
Brokers: request the UnitedHealthcare Prospect List for Colorado →
What the UnitedHealthcare network pays physicians in Colorado
| Service | Code | Median | Middle half | % of Medicare | Other networks, median | Provider groups |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diagnostic heart catheterization with coronary angiography | 93458 | $462 | $402–$537 | 161% | $405 | 19 |
| Echocardiogram, transthoracic complete with Doppler | 93306 | $109 | $89–$137 | 161% | $96 | 65 |
| Electrocardiogram (EKG), complete | 93000 | $25 | $20–$32 | 162% | $23 | 41 |
| Nuclear stress test (SPECT myocardial perfusion) | 78452 | $123 | $100–$147 | 165% | $86 | 65 |
| Treadmill stress test, complete | 93015 | $121 | $100–$156 | 165% | $102 | 47 |
| Skin biopsy, single lesion (tangential) | 11102 | $126 | $109–$153 | 132% | – | 72 |
| Colonoscopy (diagnostic, with biopsy, with polyp removal) | 45380 | $343 | $312–$384 | 193% | – | 15 |
| Upper GI endoscopy (diagnostic, with biopsy) | 43235 | $231 | $215–$249 | 209% | – | 13 |
| Cataract removal with lens implant | 66984 | $834 | $678–$976 | 180% | $756 | 64 |
| Abdominal ultrasound, complete | 76700 | $221 | $145–$298 | 193% | $165 | 120 |
| Bone density scan (DXA), axial | 77080 | $74 | $54–$108 | 187% | $67 | 118 |
| CT abdomen and pelvis with contrast | 74177 | $591 | $387–$833 | 197% | $456 | 120 |
| CT chest without contrast | 71250 | $284 | $195–$401 | 214% | $257 | 120 |
| Chest X-ray, 2 views | 71046 | $59 | $37–$80 | 179% | $45 | 120 |
| MRI brain without and with contrast | 70553 | $683 | $476–$953 | 216% | $610 | 117 |
Professional fee only: facility, implant and anesthesia charges are not included. Limited: rates come from a sample of providers, and groups are counted only in specialties that perform the service.
What the UnitedHealthcare network pays hospitals in Colorado
UnitedHealthcare commercial rates are on record at 38 Colorado hospitals (the hospitals covered so far, not every hospital). Compared at the same hospitals, UnitedHealthcare's rate is higher than the other carriers' median for 14 of 17 services and lower for 3. For MRI, lower back, the rate runs from $391 to $2,389 across 19 hospitals.
This page shows 3 of the 17 services in full. The other rates, the size of each gap and every hospital's prices are in the Plan Cost Benchmark.
| Service | Hospitals | Median rate | Range (P10–P90) | vs other carriers, same hospitals | Cash price, median |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hip or knee replacement (hospital stay) | 17 | $37,479 | $27,879–$47,655 | Higher | – |
| C-section delivery (hospital stay) | 21 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Vaginal delivery (hospital stay) | 21 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| MRI, lower back | 19 | $894 | $391–$2,389 | Higher | $2,157 |
| MRI, knee | 19 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| CT, head | 19 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| CT, abdomen and pelvis | 19 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Screening mammogram | 7 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Colonoscopy, diagnostic | 11 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Upper GI endoscopy with biopsy | 11 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Knee arthroscopy | 11 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Cataract surgery | 11 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Gallbladder removal, laparoscopic | 11 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Knee replacement, outpatient | 11 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Emergency visit, level 4 | 19 | $3,361 | $2,023–$4,067 | Higher | $1,892 |
| Comprehensive metabolic panel | 11 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| Complete blood count | 11 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
Hospitals with the most published UnitedHealthcare rates
| Hospital | Joint replacement | MRI lower back | CT abdomen | Colonoscopy | ER level 4 | Vaginal delivery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder Community Health Foothills Hospital | $44,795 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Denver Health Main Campus | – | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Spalding Rehabilitation Hospital | $27,879 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Uc Health Broomfield Hospital | $34,008 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Uc Health Grandview Hospital | $34,008 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Uc Health Highlands Ranch Hospital | $33,443 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Uc Health Longs Peak Hospital | $37,479 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Uc Health Memorial Hospital Central | $37,922 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Uc Health Pikes Peak Regional Hospital | $20,034 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Uc Health University Of Colorado Hospital | $47,655 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
How the contracts are written: case rates 23%, fee schedules 13%, per diem 0%, percent of billed charges 28%, other 35% of UnitedHealthcare's published commercial rates for these services in Colorado.
Employers: see all 17 services and every hospital near your people in a Plan Cost Benchmark →
Hospital facility rate only: physician, anesthesia and implant charges are separate. Rates are what hospitals publish, not claims paid, and are not weighted by use.
Carriers in Colorado
| Carrier | Plans | Share | Median premium / person | Median broker % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cigna | 276 | 48% | $3,009 | 6.4% |
| Kaiser Permanente | 146 | 25% | $7,472 | 3.7% |
| UnitedHealthcare | 114 | 20% | $5,773 | 4.1% |
| Anthem (Elevance Health) | 52 | 9% | $6,976 | 3.4% |
| Other insurers (regional and local plans) | 50 | 9% | $3,138 | 7.5% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | 31 | 5% | $6,582 | 4.3% |
| Aetna | 24 | 4% | $6,205 | 4.2% |
| Humana | 2 | 0% | $771 | 5.8% |
UnitedHealthcare in other states
FAQ
How many Colorado employers have UnitedHealthcare health insurance?
114 employer health plans in Colorado reported a UnitedHealthcare major-medical contract in their 2024 filings, covering 58,481 persons. Self-funded plans that UnitedHealthcare only administers are not counted.
What is UnitedHealthcare's share of the Colorado insured employer market?
20% of insured large employer health plans, 3rd of 8 carrier groups by plan count.
How much do brokers earn on UnitedHealthcare plans in Colorado?
Where broker or agent pay was reported, the median was 4.1% of premium (4.7% across all carriers in Colorado).
Can I see the figures for a specific employer?
Yes. Brokers can request an Employer Account Brief on one employer, or a Prospect List for this market. Employers can request a Plan Cost Benchmark for their own plan. Use the request form on this page.
About these numbers
- Plans counted: the 114 Colorado employer health plans with a UnitedHealthcare major-medical contract in their 2024 filings. Self-funded plans that UnitedHealthcare only administers are not counted here.
- Premium and broker figures: 110 contracts with 20+ persons covered and a reported premium; broker percentages use the 103 contracts that reported broker or agent pay.
- Network rates: UnitedHealthcare Choice, professional fees only, from a sample of providers.
- Hospital prices: UnitedHealthcare commercial rates at Colorado hospitals; stay and facility prices only.
- Full method and limits: how the employer health plan data is built.